Nut-tapping machine.



W. WARE n G. M RUUD,

NUT TAPPINC- MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED Dnc. 11, 191s.

8 SHEBTS-SHEET 1,

Patented Mar. 2, w.

W. L. WARD G. M, RUUD.

NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

mfom/Ens' L. WARD z G. M. RUDD.

NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.11, 191s.

Patented Mar. 2, MM5.

s SHBBTSAHEET s.

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W. L. WARD L G. M.. RUDD.

NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11, l9l3.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

LLSQE.,

W. L. WARD & G. M. RUDD.

NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONFILED DEO.11, 191s.

W. L. WARD & G. M. RUDD. NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED Dl?0.11l 1918. lggg-gga r .E LE -7. 19

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

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W. L. WARD a; G. M. RUDD. NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEU. 1l, 1913.

Patented Ma.2,1915.

mamma..

WIT/VESSES narran eras rnrnn'r onnrcn,

WLLLAM L. WA. AND GEORGE IVI. RUDD, OF PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOBS T0 RUSSELL, BURDSALL & WARD BOLT AND NUT C0., 0F PORT CMSTER, NEW YORK,

A CORPRATION 0F NEW YOil NUT-TAPPING FCHENE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented T/llar. 2, i915..

Application led December 1l, 1913. Serial No. 805,897.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, WILLIAM lL. Wann and GEORGE M. RUDD, citizens of the 'United States, residing at Fort Chester, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements-in Nut-TappingrMachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rlhis invention relates to metal working machines, and with regard to certain more specific features thereof, to machines for cutting or finishing nut blanks as for a more specific instance a tapping machine for interiorly threading the bolt hole of a nut.

@ne of the obJects of the invention is to provide highly durable automatic apparatus for the threading of nut blanks.

Another obj ect of the invention Yis the provision of a practical machine of the character referred to involving a plurality of cutters or tappers, the cutting or tapping operation of one of the cutters or tappers being automatically effected during the stripping, or discharging, of a previously operated cutter, or tapper, thus enhancing the capacity of machines of the character referred to.

Still another object of this invention is the v provision of means to minimize the possibility of fracture of the working parts of the machine, thereby, not only making for increased capacity by avoiding a discontinuance of operation to repair` or replace parts, but saving the cost in labor and materials of said repairing or replacing of parts.

@ther objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the foly lowing claims.

Referring now to the drawings, in which is shown one of various possible embodlaments of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of an automatic nut tapping machlne bearing blocks mechanism has just been thrown into engagement to cause the nut-filled tap to be moved opposite the stripper mechanism. Fig.v 2 is a view in front end elevation of said machine but with the hopper and supply mechanism attachedl.. Fig. 3 is a view in rearend elevation of said machine. Fig. t is a view in left side elevation of said machine illustrating the position of the parts thereof at that time in the operation when the taplled/ with nuts has been presented opposite the stripping mechanism. Fig. 5 is 'a view in right side elevation of said machine takenA at or about the time of tapping the last nut and just prior to the engagement of the clutch mechanism to cause the tap filled with nuts to be rotated into a position opposite the stripper mechanism. Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal central section through the positioning mechanism and the rotary Fig. 7 is a view in vertical transverse section on of Fig. view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. l., looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the tap-holder in front elevation. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal central sectional view taken on the line 10.10 of Fig. l. Fig. 1l is a face view of the gripper slide actuating cam and cooperating mechanism. Fig. l2 is a view of the gripper jaw actuating cam and cooperating mechanism.

ln the drawings, in which like characters of reference refer to similar-parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the frame of the machine, the same comprising a table 2 and legs, 'the latter adapted to cooperate with standards t whlch in turn are securely fixed to a platform or to the floor.v Supported in suitable adjustable 5 in the standards 4f is a main driving shaft 6 extending the length of the machine and carrying in fixed relation therewith the driving pulley 7 which drivesa pulley Svfixed on a shaft 9 journaled 1n the framel of the machine; said drivlng being accomplished through the 4endless belt l0 which engages said pulley 8 and certain other pulleys supported in suitable brackets disposed on the table 2 of the machine, which will be hereinafter described in detail. rlhe shaft 9 carries a pinion 11 which meshes t; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional with a gear l2 fixed on a spindle 13, said spindle having also fixedly mounted thereon a pinion 14 and said spindle being in turn loosely mounted for rotation in the arms 15 and 16 of a swin ing bracket 17. The bracket 17 is adjusta ly mounted on therear end of the frame 1 (see Fig. 3) and is partially supported by and pivotally arranged on the shaft 9. A slot 18 shaped concentrically to the shaft 9 is provided in said bracket and adapted to engage a stud 19 projecting from the rear end of the frame. A washer. 2O and a nut 21 serve to secure the bracket in di'erent adjusted positions on the frame. The before-mentioned arm 16 and another arm 22 have integral therewith at their outer ends a sleeve bearing 23 for a spindle 24; said spindle is adapted to rotate in said bearing and has fixed thereto at one end, meshing with the pinion 14, a gear 25 and carries on its other end in iixed relation therewith and consequently with the gear 25 a sprocket wheel 26 coperating with a sprocket wheel 27 through the agency of a sprocket chain 28.

By the mechanism just previously described there is provided a train of gearing supported on the movable bracket 17 and driven from the pulley shaft 29. It will be obvious that any movement of the bracket 17 provided for by the stud and slot adjusting meansvhereinbefore described will be a rotary movement about the shaft 9 and'that consequently all the gears and pinions composing the train of gearing will retain their same relative positions. The adjustment may be for the purpose of taking up the slack'of the sprocket chain 28 or for other purposes'as will be apparent. The sprocket wheel 27 is keyed or otherwise suitably fixed 0n a shaft 29.at the extreme rear' of the machine. There is also provided at the rear of the machine a clutch mechanism 30 comprising a clutch member 31 and a' clutch member 32, the latter being loosely mounted on the shaft' 29 for rotation thereon independently of the movement of said shaft, and the same being supported in the split bearing 33. The clutch member 32 is provided with a plurality of teeth 34 adapted to engage with correspondinglteeth 35 on the clutch member-31, and a sprocket wheel 36 is fixed on the opposite end of said clutch member 32 and is adapted to rotate therewith without being iniiuenced by the rotation of thev shaft 29. A feather 37` is provided on the shaft 29 opposite the clutchmember 31 and is designed to compel rotary movement of the clutch member 31 with the shaft 29, at the same time permitting sufficient longitudinal movement of said clutch member to engage and disengage with the clutch member 32. The clutch member 31 is provided with an annular groove 38 near its forward end adapted to receive lugs 39 of a forked actuating lever 40 fulerumed at 41 medias in the frame and in turn actuatedi by cam mechanism which will be hereinafter described. An expansile spring 42 surrounds the shaft 29 and has one end abutting a collar 43 adjustably fixed to said shaft. rlhe other end of said spring bears against the forward end of the clutch member 31, tending to throw the latter into engagement with the clutch member 32. On the shaft 29, near the front of the machine, is a 'worm 44 integral with said shaft and conj fined in a. suitable casing, as indicated at 45. This worm meshes with a worm wheelv 46 which in turn is fixed on the cam ishaft47. 1t will be seen therefore that the cam shaft .is driven in the following manner The 24 through the agency of a gear 25 and this y sprocket shaft 24 drives the shaft 29 through the sprocket wheel 26, sprocket chain28 and sprocket wheel 27, and said shaft 29, having integral therewith the worm 44, drives the cam shaft 47 through the medium of the worm wheel'46.

Nut `blanks supply/ng means.-Mounted upon the table 2 of the frame 1, and in fixed relationtherewith, is a substantial bracket 48 -which provides supporting means for a hopper 49, a blank guideway, or chute '50 and a reciprocatory feed member or agitator 51; said agitator is journaled in said bracket at 52, and the same is adapted to be intermittently reciprocated by an arm 53 carrying on its free end a roll 54 adapted to engage with the lower edge of said feeder. This arm 53 is fixed on a shaft 55 which is driven by a shaft 55 through the medium of the pinion 56 and the gear 57; said shaft 55 is in turn driven from the shaft 29 by a belt 58 engaging with a pulley 59 on the shaft 55 and a pulley 60 on the shaft 29. The agitator or feed member 51 vis of sector-like shape, having its upper edge channeled as at 61 to receive a plurality of nut blanks in standing edgewise relation therewith. Or, in other words, the channel is not adapted to receive a nut blank except that the same bel introduced by its smallest dimension. The hopper 49 is adapted to receive a great number of nut blanks at one time and in the operation of the machine the agitator 51, which is preferably a slicer, is adapted to be intermittently reciprocated about its journal 52 by the mechanism previously described. When the slices.1 is in its lowermost position the upper edge of the same, or the channel 61, is dispcsed very in the rear portion of the sleeve 73 and ter' Macnee it collects a number of nut blanks in the channel 61, and when the same reaches its upper position there is a tendency for the nut blanks to slide from the channel into the Vchute 50 where they Aimmediately dropr into the guide member which will be described later. Tn this preferred vconstruction the hopper 49 is slotted at the bottom to permit of the reciprocation of the slicer. This slot, however, is always occupied by the slicer, and there is no possibility of the nut blanks falling out of the hopper. -There is an opening in the hopper at the mouth thereof, as at 62, to permit the nut blanks to pass into the chute. Disposed slightly above this opening 62 and journaled in the hopper at 63 is a toothed wheel 64 providing means to prevent the mouth of the hopper from becoming choked with nut blanks or any other obstruction. This wheel is so positioned that the nut blanks in their regular path of travel barely clear the teeth of said wheel and in the event that the action of the reciprocatory slicer tends to throw a number of nut blanks other thanthose disposed in the channel down toward the mouth of the hopper, the teeth of the wheel 64, said teeth moving in a directionopposite that of the direction of the nuts, .will serve to keep the passageway clear at the mouth of said hopper. The wheel 64 is rotated from the shaft 29 through the agency of a cross-belt 65 and suitable pulleys.

Cutting or tapping mecham'sm.-The chute 50 discharges at its lower end into a longitudinal guide member 66 so shaped and constructed as to support a nut blank and permit longitudinal movement thereof. This guide member 66 is fashioned in a bracket 67 securely attached to the frame by bolts 68. The bracket 67 carries on the forward end thereof two iXed bearings 69 and 70. The bearing 69 is adapted to support a spindle 71 in fixed relation to the bracket 67, and the bearing has loosely mounted therein a slightly reduced portion 72 of a cylindrical pusher or sleeve 73 which is threaded at 74 to engage a block 75. The spindle 71 is disposed within the cylindrical sleeve 73 andsaid spindle has a slightly enlarged cylindrical head 76 disposed within a cylindrical recess 77 in the sleeve 73. This recess extends for a considerable distance minates, and the interior diameter of the sleeve from the point of termination of said recess to the end of the sleeve is of a size adapted to permit longitudinal movement of the sleeve on the head 76 of the spindle 71. The block is grooved.' to receive the projecting lugs of a forked actuating fol*- lower, comprising a lever 78 pivoted to the frame of the machine on a shaft 79, said shaft having xed thereon outside the frame a curved arm 80 coacting with certain cams or cam portions 81 and 82 of a cam wheel 83 Xed on the cam shaft 47. The4 sleeve 73 is slidably supported in the bearings 70 and further slidably supported in an upwardly projecting portion 84 of the bracket 67, and said sleeve 73 connects at its eX- treme forward end with a yoke 85, said yoke being slidable upon the spindle 71. Hookshaped arms 86 and 87 are tapped or otherwise suitably secured in the bracket 67 and projectrearwardly some distance beyond the guides 66. Contractile springs 88 and 89 each have one end secured respectively to laterally extending portions 90 and 91 of the hook-shaped arms 86 and 87, and have their other ends connecting respectively with opposite sides of the yoke 85, thereby exerting a pressure tending to cause the sleeve 73 to move in. a direction toward the rear of the machine. The action of these springs is overcome intermittently by the cam portions on the lcam wheel 83 operating to actuate the .levers 80 and 78 to move the block 75 and consequently the sleeve 73 in a forward direction. The yoke has a lower face .92 which is adapted tol slide on the bracket 67 and said yoke 85, engaging as it does the sleeve member 7 3v and the spindle 71, serves partially as a support for both of Athese members. The guide member 66 fashioned in the bracket 67 has a forward wall 93 which coincides with the forward wall 94 of the chute 50, and the sleeve 73 in its retracted position, shown in Fig. 8, has its rear end slightly forward of this wall 93 in order to permita nut blank to drop from the chute 50 into the guide member 66. The guide member 66, comprises a slot for the passage of the taps between the side walls thereof, and is of such cross-section as to prevent the rotation ofthe nut blanks when in engagement with the taps. Tt might be here noted that when the sleeve 73 movesr toward the rear it immediatelyv provides a barrier across the open discharging end 95 of the chute 50, thereby preventing any nut blanks from dropping into the guide member 66 until the sleeve has been retracted into the position shown in Fig.V 8. The recess 7 7 in the rear end of the sleeve 73 is for the purpose of allowing penetration of the sleeve by the cutting tool or tap when the sleeve moves toward the rear of the machine in the cutting or tapping operation. This cutting tool or tap will be described in detail in later passages hereof. Tt will be obvious, however, at this time that if the sleeve 73 surrounds the tap during the cutting or tapping operation, scraps or particles of waste are apt to be disposed therein, and it is for the purpose of ejecting this ile i lid Wastethat the slightly enlarged head 76 is provided on the stationary spindle 71. This head substantially corresponds in diameter to the diameter of the recess 77, and when the sleeve 73 is retracted the head 76 serves as a means to eject all waste particles that may be therein. As heretofore stated, the

nut blanks pass through the chute 50 and the lowermost nut blank is discharged into the guide 66. The cutting tool or tap is brought into tapping position opposite said lowermost blank or nut by certain positioning means, which will be hereinafter described. The tap is rotated at predetermined times and the cam 83 permits the springs'88 and 89 to move the sleeve 73 rearward over the tap. |The end of the sleeve picks up the nut blank which has been discharged into the chute and carries the same on to the threaded end portion of the rotating tap. It is only required to urge the nut blank a short distance onto the tap as the same will be quickly taken by the threads of the tap and being held against rotary movement by the guide 66, the threads of the tap will cause the same to move in a longitudinal direction until the nut blank has passed entirely over the threaded portion of the tap on to the shank portion thereof. As each of the cams or cam portions 81 of the cam-wheel 83 coacts with the lever 80 to move the latter on to a high portion of the cam, the sleeve 73 is retracted against the action of the springs 88 and 89 and immediately the end of said sleeve recedes past the opening at the delivery end of the chute 50, the lowermost nut blank when in the chute will be discharged into the guide member 66.

It will be noted that the low portions of the cam 83 operate to permit the springs 88 and 89 to feed the blanks into engagement with the tap for the tapping of the nuts, while the high portions, which in this preferred form of the invention very much resemble gear teeth, provide for retracting the sleeve or carrier 73 into a position to feed another nut blank. It will be furthernoted that dwell portions are also provided on the cam-wheel, the dwell 82 on the low portion of the cam being for the purpose of allowing sufficient time for a nut blank which may be disposed on the tap to pass entirely over said tap on to the shank thereof, and the dwell 81" on the high portion of the cam being for the purpose of allowing sufficient time for the tap to be moved out of tapping position and another tap to be moved into tapping position.

The tap-z0Zder.-This mechanism, illustrated in enlarged section in F ig. 6 of the ,drawings, comprises rotatable members 96 adapted to hold 'the taps, preferably-by gripping the same, and as they are similar in construction, a description of one will suiice for all. Eachof the rotatable memmedia-e ybers 96 is provided with a head 97 and a spindle 98, said spindle being in turn mount` ed in a tap translatory means, preferably a rotatable turret 99, to be hereinafter further described. The immediate holding means for a tap comprises a set of gripper jaws pivoted on the head 97, said set in the preferred form comprising oppositely disposed jaws 100- and 101 pivoted at 102 and 103, on said head, each jaw providing an angular tap contacting piece or bit 104, held by a screw-bolt 105. These jaws are pressed apart by springs 106 disposed in recesses 107, in said jaws, and are positively pressed toward each other to grip the tap by rock levers 108 and 109 pivoted to the head 97 at 110 and 111, the outer arms of which levers are provided with adjustable members 112 adapted te contact the heads of'the bolts 105, the members 112 being threaded throughopenings in said arms and held therein by `locking-screws 113. The rock levers 108 and 109 are disposed in recesses 114C in the head 97, and are coupled to a block 115, slidably mounted in guides 116 in the head 97, by toggle links 117. The block 115 is carried'by a rod 118 extending through the spindle 98, and normally projecting a distance to the rear of said spindle. An abutment member 118 o'f tooled steel or other suitable material is disposed in the holder 96 opposite the proximate end of the tap. The spindle 98 is longitudinally cored to receive the actuating rod 118 of the grip-` per mechanism and surrounding said rod and engagingva cup-shaped washer 119 is a substantiallyl strong expansile coil spring 120. The forward end of said spring bears against the washer 119 which in turn abuts the end 121 of the core of the spindle 98, and the rear end of said spring bears against a cylindrical head 122 tapped or otherwise suitably adjustably secured on the rear end vof the rod 108, said head 122being adapted for longitudinal movement in a cylindrical bushing 123 tightly fitted in the core of the spindle 98. Suitable exterior bearings `are provided for said spindle, as indicated at 124 and 125, to facilitate a free rotary movement of the spindle 98 in the turret 99, and said turret is adapted in this preferred form of the invention to support a plurality, preferably two, of these tap-holders, diametrically disposed relatively to the axis of the turret and 'at a distance from, or concentric to, said axis. A pulley 126 is keyed or otherwise suitably secured on each spindle and adapted to rotate the same. -Antifric tional thrust bearings 127 are provided for purposes which will be obvious and need not be explained. A rock lever 128 is pivoted on the frame of the machine at 129 and has a curved bearing face 130 which is adapted to contact with the projecting end 131 of the actuating rod 118, and it may here be mediar noted that the spring operates to normally urge this rod in a rearward direction. rlhis will cause the toggle links 11'?v to straighten, tending to throw the rear end of the rock levers outward fromthe axis of the tap-holder and to bring the gripper jaws into gripping position against the tap, overcoming the action of the springs 106. At a certain time in the operation of this machine, to wit, during the blank discharging operation, it is designed to release the tap from its engagement with its holder and to accomplish this is the important function of the lever 128. Accordingly, there is provided on the cam shaft 47 a cam 132 which coacts with a cam'roll 133 supported oir an arm 134 pivoted on the frame 1 at 135. This arm 134 is connected to the lower end of the rock lever 128 through the connecting rod 136. rlhis rod is in two portions and a turn buckle 137 is provided for purposes of connection and adjustment. rlFhe cam 132 is adapted at a predetermined time to actuate the rock lever 128 to move the upper end thereof forwardly carrying the actuating rod 118. r1`his movement overcomes the action of the spring 120 and permits the springs 106 to throw apart the gripper jaws of the rotary tap-holders, as illustrated in llig. 6 (upper tap-holder). @ther tapholding mechanism comprising a set of gripper jaws cooperating with the discharging or stripping device, hereinafter referred to, may then advance, grip the tap and withdraw the same from the holder, bringing saidtap into ya position to be discharged of blanks, substantially as indicated by the dotted lines at 138, lFig. L6. ill/*lien the discharging operation is completed the last mentioned gripping devices return the tap to its former position in the holder, and at that time the cam roll 133 rides off the high portion of the cam 132, allowing the spring 120 to move the rock levers 109 into their normal active position against the jaws 100 and 101, thereby overcoming the action of the springs 106 and causing rengagement oi the cutting tool or tap.

The positioning, or tool translating, 'meckanz'sm.-Comprises means to translate the cutting tools or taps` to different positions and means are also'provided to lock the translatory means in said different positions. A s has been heretofore stated, the taps 139 are removably fixed in rotatable members 96, said members having spindles 98 supported in a movable turret 99. 1n the preferred form of the machine, the member 99 is in the nature of a rotary turret comprising a front cylindrical portion 140 and a rear vcylindrical portion 141, the same being connected together by ties 142. 'llhese portions 140 and 141 have rotary bearings in a bracket 143, said bracket being adjustably securedto the table 2 of the trame. 1 in ways Aarm 151'pivoted and having a projection or tooth 153 adapt- 144 provided on said table to port longitudinal movement of the bracket 143 and the entire mechanism supported thereby. rllhis bracket is split at 145 to facilitate vthe assembling of parts. Secured to the rear face of the rear cylindrical member 141 of the turret is a locking ring 146, and secured to the latter is a gear 147. 'llhe locking ring is provided with diametrically disposed notches 148 and 149 and in the normal operative condition of the machine said turret is locked against rotary movement by a latch 150. rllhis latch 150 comprises a pivoted to the bracket 143 at 152 ed to tit in either of the notches 148 or 149.. The pivoted arm 151 has formed on the lower side thereof a fork straddling the .upper end of a connecting link 154 which is pivoted theretol, as indicated at 155. 'llhe lower end of the connecting link 154 is in turn straddled by the forked end 156 of an arm 157 of a bell crank lever 1,58, the other arm 159 of which connects through a 4connecting rod 166`with an arm 161 of another bell crank lever 162. 'llhe other arm 163 .of the lever 162 has a lug 164- adapted to coact with a cam hired to the cam shaft 47. By the mechanism just previously described-,the

latch 150 is adapted to be thrown in and out ot engaging relation with the locking ring 148as when the lug 163 rides upon the big A portion 166 of the cam 165, the arm 159 of the bell crank lever158 is moved toward the front of the machine. The arm 157ml3 said lever is accordingly moved down carry,- ing the connecting i i 154 and accordingly retracting the projection 153 from its engagement with the locking ring. The lug 164 is only thrown outward on to the high portion of the cam 165 during a short angular traveler the cam, and as soon as the high portion 166 has passed by said lug 164 in the course of travel of the former the leaf spring 16? (shown in vthe dotted in Fig. 3) tends to return the mechanism to its normal locking position. llt so happens in this embodiment that when the high portion 166 of the cam 165 rides past the lug 164 and the spring 167 operates to return the parts to their normal locking position neither of the notches 148 or 149 are in a position to receive the projection 153 of the latch, as this occurs at a time in the opera.-

tion of the machine when the turret is turning degrees. lAccordingly the projection 153 bears against the periphery ofthe locking rin@7 waiting its opportunity to engage one ofthenotches 148 or 149 and when the proper one of these notches is presented yopposite `the latch the same immediately engages therewith, ,stops Athe turret and securely holds :the saine against any further rotary movementineithe direction until a second reparation lof theimllocking mechadal nism. The turning of the turret isV accomplished in the following manner: The gear 147 meshes .with a pinion 168 xed on a short shaft 169 supported in a bearing I@ bracket 170 on the table 2 of the frame 1. This shafty is yielding-ly, preferably, friotionally connected by means of two friction plates 171 and 172 to a sprocket wheel 178 and said sprocket wheel is in turn connected to the rocket wheel 36 (heretofore described) yV a sprocket chain 174'u Af cam 17 5 on the cam shaft 47 coperates with'an arm 17 6 fulcrumed on a stud 177 'on which is also pivoted the bell crank lever 162. Iiihis is arm 176 connects with the lower end of the litorked actuating lever through' a connecting rod 178, and said cam 17 5 is adapted 'to maintain the clutch mechanism 30 in open position vexcet for av short an lar travel, ofthe cam ysluiting which time 1t al lows the spring 42 to ur e the clutch mem# ber 3-1 into engagement with the clutch member 32. This happens at a .time in the operation of the machine just subsequent to the 2e llin of 'one tap shank with a redetermine number of nuts which it is esired to strip therefrom, and the engagement of the clutch mechanism imparts the rotary movement of the shaft 2,9, whichai's continuously rotated, to the short shaft 1,69 through the sprocket 34, sprocket chain 174 sprocket 17 3,

'and friction plates 171 and 172, causing a rotation of the pinion 168 during the engagement of the clutch mechanism 30 and the disengagement of the latch 150 from the locking ring 146. As soon as yone of the diametrically opposed notches 148 or 149 is presented opposite the latch the spring 167 causes immediate engagement of said latch with one of said notches and even though the clutch members 31 and'32 may not have become wholly disengaged-the turret will stop rotating for the reason that the connection between the sprocket 173 and the shaft 169 is 'a frictional connection and slipping will occur between the plates 171 and 172 and the sprocket 173.

From the ,above"'ust described construction it will be no that the' turret 99 supports and translates a plurality ofsets of tap` gripperjaws whichY have an intermittent movement in an endless path to differrlit ositions, primarily ositions where the a discharged from the taps, each tap being connected to its holder so that the two rotate as one;

Auwz'lzry :tariff-balding merma-As a result of the tapping'` operation in the present 60 embodiment, the tap ed blanks will be found strung upon, t e shank of the tap between its head and the threaded or cutting portion of the tap, and the present invention providesco" eratin means for discharging or'strippmg sai blanks from the are tapped and w ere the lblanks are medias tap.l '0n the table 2, adjacent one of the 'To vstationary positions in the rotary path of the taps, is a guideway 180 in which is [adapted to reciprocate a tap supporting carriage 181. Said carriage has an accurate it in theI guideway and forms a sup- 115 port foren auxiliary set of gripper jaws for' the taps. In the present embodiment the gripper jaws comprise oppositely disposed angular tap contacting members or bits 182 adjustably fixed by means of screw 8o bolts 183 in rock levers 184 pivoted at the upper portion of the carriage at 185.

186 represents a rock shaft journaled in the carriage and provided with a crosshead 187, and links 188 connect the lower 85 ends of the levers 184, respectively, with the opposite ends of said cross-head. Fixed to the shaft 186 is a sleeve 189, having parallel arms 190 and 191,/ and a pivot pin 192 connects the outer ends of' said latter 90 arms. A square block 193, journaled on the pin' 192, is encircled by a square strap 194, and said block is adapted for slight longitudinal movement in ways provided by said strap. The strap has a depending elongated stem 195 provided at its lower end with an adjustable collar 196. Surround-ing the stem 195 is a cylindrical sleeve 197, the upper portion of which is adapted to abut a shoulder 198 of the strap 194. Surrounding the stem 195, within the sleeve 197, is a helical spring 199, the upper end of which is adapted to lie against an inner shoulder on the sleeve 197 and the lower end of which is adapted to contact the collar 196. The lower portion of the sleeve 197 is provided with bearings for one arm of a bellcrank lever 200, pivotally mounted on the frame at 201, the other arm of saidv lever having a, cam roll 202 which is adapted to travel in a face cam 203 on the cam shaft 47. The cam 203 is so shaped as to raise and lower the sleeve 197 and thereby open and close the auxiliary gripper jaws 182 at proper redetermined times, and it will be observed) that the movement tending to closesaid jaws is accomplished through the instrumentality of the spring 199, said gripper jaws being resiliently closed as distinguished from a positive closing thereof. By this construction, 'should there be an improper positioning of the tap in the ipper jaws or foreitgnmatter becomes isposed therebetween, racture of the more 'delicate parts of the mechanism will be avoided. The carriage 181 is adapted to move toward and from that tap in the turret which has been brought to discharging position, and in order to accomplish these ,.movements, the bottom of said carriage is medias move the auxiliary grippers into positionV Y while thelatter is gripped in the turret, to then draw said tap from the turret, to then hold said tap stationary while the blanks are being discharged thereopposite the tap,

` from and to then restore lsaid tap to the tur- Avarices and "he grippers ret grippers. llt may be further noted that in iixlng the taps in the tap-holders ot the turret they will be set in the position to run `true, and theangular heads of the taps provide tor a variety of rotative positions 'hereof in the turret tap-holders. Having been set in true running-position torl tapping, it is designed/that the same true position shall always be occupied by the nparticular tap during the tapping operation, and to this end the taps will be returned to the turret `grippers and to the original rotative position relative to the latter grippers alter the discharge of blanks thereilrom, The tap to be discharged being in position in the turret grippers, the carriage 181 ad- 182 close upon the tap at a point remote from its head, preterably opposite the threaded channeled portion thereof, tor which the angular character ol the jaws -182 is especially adapted., The. jaws 182 then close upon the tap, siziiectively gripping the same before the tur,- ret gripper jaws release the tan, The latter gaws vthen release their grip upon the shank of the tap, and the auxiliary gripper p jaws retreat, carrying with them the tap,

and spacing the shank end of the :from the other gripping mechanism so as to rovide'or the tree escape ot the blanks :trom the shank oi thev tap as will hereinafter appear.

Tap discharging mecmnsm.-The tap to be discharged having been spaced as described, the present embodiment provides a discharging device, abutment, or plate which is adapted to contact with the blanks, and upon relative longitudinal movement of the discharging device and said tap, the blanks will be discharged. yllhe numeral 210 indicates an abutment or plate 'which is adapted to contact the foremost of the blanks upon the tap and positively discharge them 'theretrom. This plate is preferably provided with an opening 211 et insufficient size to escape the blanks but adapted to :freely encircle the'tap, and said plate is carried by a block 2.12, having.. reciprocatory movement and being guided on a squared guide bar 213, red in a bracket 214 on the table 2., ilhe block 212 is made in separable parts for convenient application to the bar 213 and a link 215 connects said block to an upper\arm of a rock lever 216 pivoted to the frame at 217 and having an arm 218 provided with a weight 219, the organization being such that the weight 219 tends to move the block and the'discharging plate carried thereby in a direction to push the blanks oli of the tap. inasmuch as, in the present embodiment, the discharging plate 210 encircles the tap, means are provided for moving said plate with the auxiliary gripper jaws when the latter .advance to grip the tap and recede therewith, and also to move said plate into its normal initial position after the blanks have been discharged. To this end the lever 216 is provided with an arm 220, to which is pivotally connected a supporting member 221, having a slotted'engagement with a squared block 222, journaled on the cam shaft 47, there being a cam roll223 on the member 221 which contacts with a cam 224 on the shalt 47, the latter cam being designed to positively give certain proper movements to the discharging plate 210.

ln the operation otthis machine the 'nut i blanks are shoveled into the hopper and are intermittently disturbed by the agitatng mechanism and led into the chute thereby. As a single nut blank is discharged into the guide member the cam wheel 88 is so timed as to permit the carrier or sleeve to be moved rearwardly under the action ot its springs. rlhis carrier picks up the ,nut which has been discharged into the guide member and carries the same onto the end of the tap which is then rotating by virtue or the engagement or the `pulley 126 with the continuously driven belt 10. The guide member holds the nut blank against rotary movement during its longitudinal travel over the threaded head of the tap, and the tap itself, by virtue of its helical threads and rotary movement causes the nut to be Wormed over the threaded portion thereof on to the smooth shank portion. The machine is adapted to tap a predetermined number of nut blanks according to the number ot teeth 81 provided on the cam 83, and when this number or nut blanks has been presented to tap by the carrier a dwell occurs in the. cam allowing su'licient time for the tap coacting with the guide member 66 to worm the last nut over the threaded portion of the tap. A dwell occurs here on the'high portion 82 of the cam `lor a purpose which has been heretofore described. At this time in the operation of the machine the cam operates to unlock the turret in the manner which has been hereinbeiiore described in detail, and'simultaneously the cam 165 operates to throw the clutch mechanism 30 into engagement and rotate the turret degrecs. Two taps are provided in this prelll@ ferred form of the invention, but it will be obvious that a greater number might be used, and those taps which were not in tapping operation or stripping would merely remain idle until presented' opposite one or the other of these mechanisms. When the turret has been .rotated 180 degrees, it isy locked in position by the latch 150, the positions of the taps, as shown in Fig. 1,v are reversed and the tap having the predetermined number of nuts threaded thereon is presented opposite the stripper Aor discharging mechanism at the Sametime that the clear tap is 'presented opposite the nut carrier. 1t is to be further noted, and thersame will be readily seen upon reference to Figs. 2 or 3 of the drawings, that when the turret has been rotated, say 90 degrees, both tap pulleys 126 are in contact with the belt v10 and accordingly both rotate at this time. As the turret moves yfrom this position tov the i550-degree position, it will be seen that the pulley 126 of the tap holder of the tap which "has just been in the threading operation is free and clear of any inuence from the belt 10. A brake shoe 225 is fixed to thebracket 143 and adapted to bear against the pulley 126 when the pulley is opposite the discharging mechanism for the purpose of immediately stopping the rotation of said pulley. Therefore when one tap is rotated opposite the carrier 73, the other tap is held without rotation opposite the discharging mechanism. f

Having reached that point 'in the operation of the machine where the nuts have been threaded on to the tap, the turret has been unlocked and rotated 180 f' degrees bringing the tap with the threaded nuts thereon opposite the discharging mechanism. The auxiliary set of gripper jaws advances t the tap with its gripper jaws in open position until the latter are disposed opposite the threaded end of the tap.V The auxiliary gripper jaws are then closed by means of face cam 203 coacting with the cam roll 206 and then the actuating lever 128 is moved forwardly by the cam 132 to cause the gripper jaws 100 and 101 to be opened. The block l212 carrying the discharging plate 210 is advanced simultaneously with the advancement of lthe tap supporting carriage 181, but does no discharging at this time, and as the auxiliary holder retreats with its ripper jaws firmly engaging the threaded eadof the tap, withdrawing the same from the'turret gripper jaws, the block 212 carrying the discharging plate 213 also retreats. As soon as ythe turret has been locked in position presenting the clear tap opposite the blank feeder, the tapping of nut blanks recommences and continues during the discharging operation. The auxiliary tap holder havin been returned to lts normal position the nscharging plate 210 medias now advances alone and urges the threaded nuts over the shank end of the tap from whence they drop through an aperture 227 in the table 2 and out of the machine. The plate 210 dwells for a period of time at the end of its discharging movement 'and during ,threaded end of the tap, and the auxiliary holder and the stripper plate 210 then'retreat together `to their initial positions and the auxiliary gripper jaws are opened to receive the threaded end of the next tap. The time taken for the purpose of discharging substantially corresponds in this preferred form of the invention `to the time taken to tap the predetermined number of nuts and accordingly at the end of the discharging operation the opposite tap is provided with its properl number of threaded nutsand the clutch 30 is again engaged and -the turret rotated 180 degrees completing the" cycle and bringing thefirst tap again opposite the nutblank feeder or carrier. Accordingly there are provided by the construction described a machine adapted to.l

practically continuously tap nut blanks, the only delay being the time taken to revolve the turret 180 degrees and it will readily be seen that evenl this time need not be taken as the invention contem lates the use of a greater number of taps isposed in the tur-j ret, say apart from each other at an angle of 90 degrees, and in this event it will only be necessar to rotate the turret 90 degrees taking bald as much time. There is also provided by this invention means to return the tap to its exact primary position in the rotary tap holder of the turret, it often being necessary to use a great degree of -c-a're.

- prior machines which are not equi ped with means to restore the tap to its initial 4posi tion in the holder will readily be seen.

Asunany changes could be made in the above construction Kand many a parently widely different embodiments of t 1s invention could be made without departing from thev scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not m a limiting sense.

It is .also to 'be understood that the lan-y guage'used in the following claimsAis/in-V tended to cover all of the generic and specicfeatures of the invention herein dearcaica scribed, and all statements of the scope oita the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to'fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claimV as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

l. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, and means adapted to hold one of said taps and discharge the same while another of said taps coperates to tap a blank, said tapping means comprising mechanism adapted to effect a relative movement between a tap and a blank to thread the blank.

2. ln an apparatus of'the vcharacter described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, means adapted to intermittently translate said taps to tapping position, and means adapted to discharge one of said taps while another of said taps coperates to tap a blank, said tapping means comprising mechanism adapted to eect a relative movement between a tap and a blank to thread the blank.

3. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality offtaps, means adapted to intermittently translate said taps to tapping position, and means adapted to hold and discharge one of said taps while another of said taps coperates to tap a blank, said. tapping means comprising mechanism adapted to eect a relative movement between a tap and a blank to thread the blank.

4. ln an apparatus of the character dev scribed, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, means adapted to intermittently translate said taps to tapping position, and means adapted to contact/v a blank and .discharge a blank at a positionu of rest while another of said taps coperates to tap a blank, said tapping means comprising mechanism adapted to eect a relative movement between a tap and a blank to thread the blank.

5. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising. a plurality of taps, and means wherebyone of said taps is gripped and discharged while another of said taps coperates tov tap a blank.

6. ln an apparatus ot the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, andl means whereby one of said taps is-discharged of a plurality of blanks while anotherot said taps coperates to tap one or more blanks.

7. lin an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, means adapted to intermittently translate said taps to different positions of rest, and means whereby one ci said taps is discharged or" a plurality` of blanks while another of said taps cooperates to tap one or more blanks.

8. `ln an apparatus of the character4 described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, and means whereby one of said taps is held and discharged of a plurality of blanks while another of said taps coperates to tap one or more blanks.

9. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, means adapted to rotate said taps at a predetermined time, blank-discharging means, means whereby one of said taps while revolving coperates to tapblanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, and means adapted to resist rotary movementof said last-mentioned tap while being discharged of blanks.

l0. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, means adapted to translate said taps to different positions, blank-discharging means, and means whereby one of said taps when in one of said positions coperates to tap a plurality of blanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks.

11. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, means adapted to translate said taps to diierent positions,

blank-discharging means, means whereby one of said taps when in one of said positions coperates to tap blanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, and

lmeans adapted to lock said translatory means in said dierent positions.

12. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, means whereby one of said taps coperates to tap blanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, a blank-discharging device, means adapted to cause relative movement of said device and the tap to be discharged of blanks, and means adapted to support the latter tap at a point remote from its head during the discharge of blanks.

13. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, a plurality oirq sets of tap gripper jaws, one set for each tap, means whereby one of said taps cooperates to tap blanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, a blankdischarging device, means adapted to cause relative movement of said latter device and the tap to be discharged of blanks, and

means adapted to support the latter tap at a point remote from its head during the discharge of blanks comprising a set ot tap gripper jaws movable toward and from said first-mentioned Sets.

14. ln an apparatus of the character del scribed, inY combination, tapping means comopen and close said gripper jaws.

means adaptedv to intermittently `move said,

l5. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising al plurality of taps, a plurality of sets of tap gripper jaws, a set for each tap, means adapted to intermittently move said sets of jaws in an endless path, means whereby one of said taps ccperates to tap blanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, a blank-discharging device, a member adapted to reciprocate toward and from the path of said sets of jaws, a set of tap gripper jaws carried/by said member, means adapted to cause said last-mentioned set of jaws to grip the tap to be discharged of blanks, means adapted to cause the gripper jaws cf said first-mentioned sets to release said lattertap, and means adapted tocause relative movement of said discharging device and said last-mentioned tap to eliect discharge of blanks. j

16, ln an apparatus of the character described, incombination, tapping means comprising/a-plurality of taps, a plurality of sets cttap gripper jaws, a set for each/tap,

sets ci? jaws in an endless path, means whereby one ci said taps'coperates to tap blanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, a blank-discharging device, a member adapted to. reciprocate toward and from the path ol"- said sets or aws a set of ta ei'ect discharge of blanksa gripper jaws carried by said member, means adapted to cause a set-ol said first-mentioned sets ot jaws to release the tap to be discharged ci blanks, means adapted to cause Vsaid reciprocatory jaws to grip said latter tap before said release, and means adapted to cause relative movement' of said.

discharging device and said latter taplo l?. 'ln-an apparatus `mithe charactery dee scribed, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps,\a plurality ot sets of tap gripper jaws, a set'for each tap,

" means adapted -ton intermittently move said setsof jaws in an endless path, means -wherebyone of saidtaps coperates toitap blanks while another ot,A said taps is discharged oftf Liconsa adapted to cause a set of said lirst-.mentioned 4 sets` of jaws to release lthe tap to be disk charged of blanks, means adapted to cause said reciprocatory jaws to grip said'latter tap before said release, means adapted to cause said reciprocatory jaws to move and` thereby space the head end' of the tap vcarried-thereby from said other set of jaws, and means adapted to cause relative movement of said discharging device and said latter tap to e'ect discharge of blanks.

18. ln anvapparatus of the character described, in combination, tappingmeans comprising a plurality of taps, a plurality of sets of tap gripper aws,.a set for each tap, means adapted to intermittently move said sets of jaws in an endless path, means whereby one of said taps coperates to tap blanks' while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, a blank-discharging device comprising a blank moving element, a guide therefor, and means adapted to move said element relative to said tap to be discharged of blanks. j

19. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of taps, a plurality of sets of tap gripper jaws, a set for each tap, means adapted to intermittently move said sets o jaws in an endless path, means whereby one of said taps coperates to tap blanks while another of said taps is discharged of blanks, a blank-discharging device compris-- ing ablank moving element, a guide therefor, yielding means adapted to move said element in a direction to e'ect discharge of blanks, and means to positively move said element in the opposite direction.

20. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a pluralityof taps, a plurality of sets oil tap gripper jaws, a set for each tap,

means adapted to intermittently move lsaid sets of jaws in an endless path, means whereby one of .said taps ccperates to tap blanks lli sets or gripper jaws, a set for each tap,

means adapted to intermittently move said sets of jaws in an endless path, means whereby one of said taps coperates to tap blanks while other ci said taps is discharged of mamies blanks, a blank-discharging device comprising a reciprocatory blank moving element opposite a point of rest in said path, a vtap reciprocatory carrier comprising a set of tap gripper jaws opposite said point of rest, and means adapted to cause the tap at said point of rest to be released by the first-mentioned set of jaws, gripped by the carrier jaws, moved and spaced from said iirst jaws, and the blanks disposed in the path of said discharging device.

22. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tap, a rotary tapholder, means `adapted to connect said tap and holder so as to cause them to rotate as one, means adapted to disconnect said tap from said holder, and means adapted to restore said tap to its original position in said holder.

23. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tap, a rotary tap holder, means adapted to connect said tapv and holder so as to cause them to rotate as one, means adapted to cause relative movement of said tap and holder longitudinally of said tap, and means adapted to restore said tap to its original position in said' holder.

` Q4. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tap, a rotary tap holder, means adapted to connect said tap and holder so as to cause them to rotate as one, means adapted to translate said holder, means adapted to thereafter disconnect said tap from said holder, and means adapted to restore said tap to its original position in said holder.

25. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tap, a rotary tap holder, means adapted to connect said tap and holder so as to cause them to rotate as one, means adapted to rotate said holder,

means adapted to disconnect said tap from said holder, means adapted to restore said tap to its original position in said holder, and means adapted to bring said holder to rest relative to rotary motion before said tap is disconnected therefrom. Y

26. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotary tap holder comprising gripper jaws, a tap held by said jaws against rotation relative to said jaws, means adapted to rotate said jaws, means adapted to cause said jaws to grip and release said tap, means adapted to move said tap relatively to said jaws longitudinally of the tap when the tap is released, and means adapted to restore. said tap to its original relatively rotary position in said jaws. l

27. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotary tap holder comprising angular gripper jaws, a tap having an angular head held by said jaws against'iotation relative to said jaws, means adapted to rotate said jaws, means adapted to cause said jaws to grip and release said tap, means adapted to move said tap relatively to said jaws longitudinally of the tap when the tap is released, and means adapted to restore said tap to its original relatively rotary position in said jaws.

28. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tap, a rotary tap holder, means adapted to connect said tap and holder so as to cause them to rotate as one, means adapted to cause said tap to tap blanks, means adapted to disconnect said tap from said holder after the tapping operation, means adapted to restore said tap to its original position in said holder, and means adapted to discharge said tap of blanks after said tap is disconnected from said holder.

29. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotary tap holder comprising a set of gripper jaws, a tap held by said jaws against rotation relative to said jaws, means adapted to rotate said jaws to effect tapping of blanks, means adapted to cause said jaws to grip and release said tap, a second set of gripper jaws, means adapted to cause said second set of jaws to grip said tap and move the same relative to said irst set longitudinally of said tap when said tap is releasedjby said irst jaws, means adapted to discharge said tap oi2 blanks while held by said second `set of jaws, and means adapted to cause said second set of jaws to restore said tap to its original position in the first set of jaws.

30. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotary tap holder comprising a set of gripper jaws, a tap held by said jaws against rotation relative to said jaws,I means adapted to rotate said jaws to edect tapping oit blanks, means adapted to cause said jaws to grip and release said tap, a non-rotatable set of gripper jaws, means adapted to cause said non-rotatable set of jaws to grip said tap and move the same relative to said irst set longitudinally of said when said tap is released by said iii-st jaws, means adapted to discharge said tap oie blanks while held by said non-rotatable set of jaws, and means adapted to cause said non-rotatable set of jaws to restore said tap to its original position in the tirst set of jaws.

3l. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tap, means adapted to cause said tap to tap a predetermined number of blanks, means adapted to move said tap from tapping position, and means comprising a blank contacting member adapted to have a relative movement with said tap to discharge said tap of blanks while out of said tapping position. j j

32. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotatable tap, means adapted to cause said tap to rotate to effect tapping of blanks, means adapted to feed blanks to said tap, means adapted to move said tap out'of tapping position after a predetermined number of blanks has been tapped thereby, and means comprising a blank contacting memberadapted to have relative movement with said tap to discharge said tap of blanks while out of said tapping position'.`

33. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination, tapping means comprising a plurality of rotary taps and tap holders, meansfadapted to connect said taps to said holder`s,prespectively, so as to cause each tap and itsassociatedholder to rotate as one, blank-discharging means, means adapted to disconnect one of said taps from 'its holder, means whereby said disconnected tap'is discharged of blanks while another of said taps coperates to tapblanks, and means adapted to restore said discharged tap toits original position in said holder.

34. -lnj an apparatus of the character described,in combination, a tap, arotary tap holder, meansadapted to connect said tap l'and holder so as to cause them to rotate as lone, means adapted to move said tap into and outjof-tapping position, means adapted tocause 'saidl tap to tap a predetermined *number of blanks when in tapping position,

' means adaptedfto disconnect said tap from said holder" when out of tapping position, and means adapted to restore said tap to its original-position in said holder.

' 35. ln an apparatus of the character described, in combination,- tapping means corni prising a plurality of taps, blank-discharging means, means whereby one of said taps -coperates to tap a predetermined plurality of blanks while in tapping position, means to movesaid taps into and out of tapping positiomandmeans whereby another of said tapsis discharged of blanks while said other tap is tapping blanks.

36.. ln an apparatus of the character described, in bombination, a tap, arotary tap holder,I means adapted to connect said tap and holder so as tocause them to rotate as one, means adapted to move said tap into andvout oftapping position, means adapted to cause said tap to tap a predetermined 1- number of blanks when in tapping position,

adapted to 'intermittently rotate said man# 65 adapted to intermittently rotate said mandrel and thereby dispose one of said taps in blank-tapping position and another in blank-discharging position, means adapted to feed blanks into engagement with said tap in tapping position comprising a guideway for blanks, a pusher, means adapted to cause said pusher 'to move successive blanks into engagement with the tap in tapping position, and means adapted to discharge blanks from the tap in discharging position simultaneously with the feed of blanks to the tap vin tapping position.

39. scribed, in combination, a rotatable mandrel, a plurality of taps rotatably mounted thereon, means adapted to rotate said taps, means adapted to intermittently rotate said mandrel and thereby disposeeone of said taps in blank tapping position and another in blank-discharging position, means adapted to feed blanks into engagement withsaid tap in tapping position, comprising a guideway for blanks, a pusher, and means adapted to cause said pusher to move a successive predetermined number of blanks into tapping engagement with each tap when .in tapping position, and means adapted to discharge blanksfrom the tap in discharging n an apparatus of the character deposition simultaneously with the feed of blanks to the tap .in tapping position.

40. ln an apparatus o the character described, in combination, a rotatable mandrel,

a plurality of taps rotatably mounted vthere-- on, means adapted to rotate said taps, means adapted to intermittently rotate saidmandrel and thereby dispose one of said taps in blank tapping position and another in blank-discharging position, means adapted,

tofeed blanks into engagement with said tap in tapping position, comprising a guide- Way for blanks, a reciprocatory pusher, a rotary element comprising a predetermined number of cams, a follower adapted to con-y tact with said surfaces and connected to said pusher, and, means adapted to discharge blanks fromthe tap in discharging position simultaneously with vthe feed of blanks to the tap in tapping position. v

al. In an-apparatus of the character de- 

